Agrofuels

A number of existing and emerging EU policies and initiatives to green plastics, packaging, fuels and more through plant-based sources are at risk of backfiring with big social and environmental impacts, according to a new report from Friends of the Earth Europe.

Today, the European Parliament agreed new EU laws to limit the use of crop-based biofuels.

EU law makers ruled that biofuels can compete with food production, contribute to climate change, and put pressure on land use – and so have set a limit on the quantity of biofuels that can be used to meet EU energy targets (at no more than 7% of transport energy).[1]

Limiting the use of biofuels from food crops that can be used to fuel Europe's cars moved a step closer today after MEPs voted to reform the EU's biofuels policy.

EU law-makers voted once again to put a cap on the use of crops to make biofuels and also to account for their full climate impact. However the limit would still expand the use of food crops for fuel and would not end biofuels competing with food production.

Deutsche Bank has told Friends of the Earth Europe and Rettet den Regenwald that it sold its shares in the Indonesian palm oil supplier Bumitama, an important supplier to palm oil giant Wilmar, following months of campaigning by the two groups. Despite numerous promises to clean up its act, Bumitama continues to produce illegal palm oil.